Former Shin Bet head: ‘Weak’ Bibi Can’t be Trusted on Iran

Former Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin says he does not trust “weak” Netanyahu, Barak on security. Netanyahu: He’s frustrated over job loss.

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Maayana Miskin, 04/01/13 10:16

Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin.

Israel news photo: Flash 90

Yuval Diskin, formerly the head of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security service, lashed out at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Thursday, portraying him as weak, out of touch, and a danger to Israel’s security. Netanyahu’s staff says Diskin is just frustrated that he did not get a coveted intelligence position.

“My colleagues and I did not feel secure in Netanyahu and [Defense Minister] Barak’s ability to take action on Iran,” Diskin told the Hebrew-language daily Yediot Aharonot.

“We didn’t trust these people’s motives, we were afraid they would make underhanded moves and complicate matters for us as a country… when we sat in very small meetings we had a feeling they were trying to sneak something under the radar,” he accused.

Netanyahu and Barak “are too weak” to take military action to improve the situation vis-à-vis the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, he added. Diskin charged the government with “upgrading Hamas and humiliating Abu Mazen,” a reference to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Diskin made similar statements last April. Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office dismissed Diskin’s accusations as part of a personal vendetta. “Until a year and a half ago, [Diskin] wanted to head the Mossad under Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu,” they said. “His absurd statements… are being recycled now for political reasons, and are motivated by his personal frustration on not being chosen to head the Mossad.”